Guarana as a popular psychostimulant

Guarana (lat. Paullinia cupana, paulinija) iz porodice sapindovki (lat. Sapindaceae) je prašumska vinova loza, drvenasti grm s velikim listovima i sjemenkama narančasto-žute boje veličine kave udomaćen u Amazoniji. Brazilski Indijanci već stotinama godina upotrebljavaju sjemenke guarane za pripravljanje pića koje im daje energiju i smanjuje osjećaj gladi prilikom lova. Guarana se dugo koristila kao tonik i za liječenje raznih poremećaja u Brazilu i inozemstvu, a postala je nacionalno gazirano piće u Brazilu prije otprilike jednog stoljeća. Sjemenke su komercijalno koristan dio biljke zbog velikih količina kofeina, teobromina i teofilina, kao i visoke koncentracije tanina i drugih spojeva, poput saponina, polisaharida, proteina, masnih kiselina i elemenata u tragovima, kao što su mangan, rubidij, nikal i stroncij. Učinci uzimanja guarane slični su uzimanju kave. Međutim, trajanje djelovanja je produljeno i može biti znatno drugačije zbog mogućih interakcija između kofeina, saponina i tanina u guarani. Guarana je danas ključna i poznata sastavnica energetskih i sportskih napitaka, kao i napitaka koje podižu libido te farmaceutskih i kozmetičkih pripravaka diljem svijeta prvenstveno zbog sadržaja kofeina koji je najveći u biljnom svijetu, a iznosi od 2 do čak 7,5 % dok je udio kofeina u kavi oko 2%. Može se naći u sirupima, ekstraktima, destilatima, čajevima, prahu, tabletama i kapsulama. Koristi se kao diuretik, sredstvo za mršavljenje, afrodizijak, antioksidans, za ublažavanje glavobolje i groznica, kao sredstvo za čišćenje crijeva, potiče cirkulaciju, djeluje kao stimulans živčanog sustava te kao psihostimulans, odnosno pozitivno utječe na kognitivne funkcije. Istraživanja su pokazala kako je 50 – 75 mg guarane optimalna dnevna količina za poboljšanje kognitivne funkcije, općeg raspoloženja i fizičkih performansi. Neko se vrijeme smatralo da visok sadržaj kofeina u guarani predstavlja štetu za. Ali upravo je ta kvaliteta, i činjenica da dolazi iz egzotične zemlje, progurala guaranu u globalno piće.Guarana (Paullinia cupana H.B.K., Sapindaceae) is a rainforest vine, a woody shrub with large leaves and coffee-sized orange-yellow seeds domesticated in the Amazon for its caffeine-rich fruits. Brazilian Indians have been using guarana seeds for hundreds of years to prepare a drink that gives them energy and reduces the feeling of hunger when hunting. Guarana has been used as a tonic and to treat various disorders in Brazil and abroad, and became the national carbonated drink in Brazil about a century ago. The seeds are a commercially useful part of the plant due to large amounts of caffeine, theobromine and theophylline, as well as a high concentration of tannins and other compounds, such as saponins, polysaccharides, proteins, fatty acids and trace elements, such as manganese, rubidium, nickel and strontium. The effects of taking guarana are similar to taking coffee. However, the duration of action is prolonged and may be significantly different due to possible interactions between caffeine and the saponins and tannins in guarana. Today, guarana is a key and well-known component of energy and "sports" drinks, as well as drinks that increase libido, as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetic preparations worldwide, primarily due to its caffeine content, which is the highest in the plant world, ranging from 2 to as much as 7.5%, while the proportion of caffeine in coffee is about 2%. It can be found in syrups, extracts, distillates, teas, powders, tablets and capsules. It is used as a diuretic, weight loss agent, aphrodisiac, antioxidant, to relieve headaches and fevers, as a bowel cleanser, stimulates circulation, acts as a nervous system stimulant, and it is a psychostimulant; has a positive effect on cognitive functions. Research has shown that 50-75 mg of guarana is the optimal daily amount for improving cognitive function, general mood and physical performance. For some time, the high caffeine content of guarana was thought to be harmful to health due to excessive intake of caffeinated beverages. But it was precisely this quality and the fact that comes from an exotic country, pushed guarana into a global drink